"The gallery tries to showcase all kinds of art forms," said COC gallery director Larry Hurst. "Weaving is an ancient art form.

Often times it's refered to as a craft, but when I see these pieces, I look at them in an abstract sence. I look at the colors and shapes. It's almost like looking at paintings."

The exhibit includes hand-woven coats, jackets, shawls, fabrics and other items made by more than 18 local weavers on a loom of some sort, Hurst said.

Local weaver Diane Stewart, a dean at COC, contributed several of her own woven pieces to the exhibit.

"Weaving brings together separate fibers," Stewart said. "It's a process when you work with separate textures and colors and have a vision of what you think your end product is going to be. The structures that I use is really looking at texture and color. Many of the other artists are skilled at doing patterns.

"I enjoy the process of blending separate textures and colors and making it new. When you blend it with something else it becomes something special."

Art Gallery officials want to display a diverse variety of art throughout the year, said Hurst.

"I hope that people get a sense of inclusion, that something like this can be shown in a gallery setting and treated with the respect it deserves," he said. "I hope they realize that our gallery is making the biggest effort possible to be inclusive of all art forms.

They should keep an eye of the calender and see what comes up next. We're trying to be really broad in our offerings in the gallery."

The weaving exhibit is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday; and admission is free.

The gallery is located on the first floor in Mentry Hall, Room 108.